Volunteer Spotlight: Mia Holder
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Youth Activity Coordinator – Youth Prevention Services
Mia Holder is a woman of conviction. Growing up with a family that was structured and supportive, she is adamant that what kids need most isn’t something that can be measured.
“As a teen, I fought against the structure I had,” Mia remembers, “but I value it now. It’s powerful just to have a meal together with family every day.”
But Mia has struggled to find where and how to make the biggest impact. Her early career saw her working with children in special education, but she was heartbroken to see them “banished” by other children on the playground, and internalized the hopelessness of limitations they would likely never overcome. At Portland State University, she discovered she could follow her passion for the inner workings of family life by studying a mixture of social work and psychology in the Child & Family Studies program. Her practicum led her to VOA’s Youth Prevention Services.
But despite spending up to 30 hours a week with YPS’s summer lunch program, she wasn’t sure she was making a difference. “It seemed like we were just taking kids on field trips,” she recalls. But then a boy they had taken bowling told her, “This has been the best summer, ever!” and something just clicked.
“I realized things don’t have to be black and white,” she remembers. “I had to get over myself, over thinking about how I was helping and wanting to see a cause and effect. The best thing is to believe in kids - tell them they can be what they may never thought they could be. And give them experiences where they can be safe and have fun interactions.”
With VOA’s largest division providing addiction treatment and prison re-entry support, we are all too familiar with stories of adults relearning how to cope and celebrate without getting drunk or high. The team at YPS sees prevention in action daily as they support kids in building safe, positive relationships and introduce them to healthy ways to have fun and interact with each other.
“I remember worrying about one kid who didn’t have a lot of family support,” Mia recalls. “After the summer lunch program was over, I thought, ‘Is he going to eat lunch today?’ ‘Who’s he going to interact with?’ If he had those simple, basic things, it would keep him out of trouble. The whole summer program was worth it to be able to give him that.”
Mia fulfilled her practicum hours in just one month, and continued to volunteer by facilitating a girls’ group. After a few weeks with the group, she arrived to an enthusiastic welcome. “A group of girls ran out to my car calling, ‘Mia! Mia! We missed you!’ I realized that I’m responsible to them. What I do matters.”
Mia continues to stay to support the relationships she’s built. She now facilitates a book group for 5th & 6th grade boys, and is fascinated by their range of behavior; one moment stuffing foam blocks in their clothes and the next talking about insights from their reading.
“Younger kids are so unassuming and enthusiastic about everything – you see them thinking and growing,” Mia observes. She notes the importance of providing structure and setting an example of self-esteem. “I believe it’s important to show that it’s okay if not everyone likes you. I’m here to get them to like what they’re doing. Being confident with myself helps them feel confident with themselves.”
“Mia is a true leader and a tremendous asset to our team,” shares Clair Rose, YPS’s Volunteer Coordinator. “She steps up and takes charge in the community room, helping maintain order and peace.”
Mia credits her experience as a volunteer for the shift she’s experienced in herself and how she sees herself as a future professional. After graduating with her BA last summer, she’s exploring graduate programs in social work so she can have an even deeper impact.
“I can’t expect to change the world,” Mia shares. “But if I can change myself, I’ve done something. And that’s easy to do with such great kids.”
Thank you, Mia, for your strength and insight. You are making a difference every day!
By Nancy Loso, Volunteer Services Manager